Safety barrier stanchion

ABSTRACT

A stanchion used as part of a regulatory safety barrier around the ledge of an elevated construction slab comprises a square tubular enclosure having an open lower end and a closed upper end. A foot extends orthogonally near the lower end, and rests against the upper surface of the ledge. A clamping member telescopically engaged into the lower end of the enclosure has an arm also extending from its lower extremity and is positioned against the lower surface of the ledge. The arm is urged toward the foot in a ledge-clamping action by the turning of a threaded stem running inside the telescopically engaged enclosure and clamping member. The threaded stem has a lower end captured by a nut welded inside the clamping member. The upper end of the stem protrudes through a hole in the closed end of the enclosure and is fitted with a wing-nut and a hex-nut so that the stem can be turned either by hand or by means of a wrench.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to hand rails, barriers and fences and more particularly to regulatory safety barriers which must be temporarily installed during construction of an edifice around the ledge of scaffolding or an elevated floor slab.

BACKGROUND

When working on elevated scaffolds, platforms or floor slabs, construction workers and tradesmen are exposed to the hazard of falling off their work areas. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor has issued regulations requiring that any person working on such a structure more than 3.1 meters (10 feet) above the lower level be protected from falling to that lower level by a fall arrest or guard rail system meeting certain prescribed specifications. The prior art offers a variety of stanchions that can be clamped around the ledge of a platform or floor slab. A number of such stanchions spaced apart along a ledge can support joining studs or cables to form the required safety barrier. The clamping of each stanchion is accomplished by a vise-like structure that relies on the manual strength of the installer manipulating a clamping handle. However, temperature changes and other weather conditions can cause variations in the size and dimensions of materials used in the fabrication of the stanchions or the platform or slabs upon which they are attached. Any resulting loosening of the clamping force applied by the stanchion on the working surface can compromise the safety of the barrier.

The instant invention results from an attempt to improve the long term stability of safety barrier stanchions.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a lightweight but sturdy stanchion that can be used to form a safety barrier along the ledge of an elevated platform, scaffold or floor slab by providing an improved clamping action around a ledge backed by reinforcing spike or nails. The stanchion comprises a square stock tubular enclosure having at its lower end an arm that can be rested on the top surface of the ledge and secured thereon by a spike driven through a hole in the arm and into the ledge itself. A foot member is telescopically engaged in the open lower end of the stanchion. The clamping member has a foot that projects orthogonally under and against the lower surface of the ledge. The clamping member is urged upwardly by a threaded stem engaging a threaded section in the upper region of the clamping member and having an upper section protruding through the closed top section of the stanchion where it engages a handle and hex-nut. Turning of the handle causes the clamping member to translate telescopically up and down within the stanchion. The hex-nut provides for tightly clamping of the device by use of a standard wrench in addition to bare hand manipulation of the handle. Loop brackets at spaced apart locations along the stanchion allow for the passage therethrough of standard size construction studs or cables in order to form a hand rail and a knee high barrier. The lowest rung of studs is located closely to the top surface of the platform or slab and acts as a convenient stop for any object that might roll or be inadvertently pushed off the ledge at the risk of injuring personnel working below.

In some embodiments there is provided a safety barrier stanchion securable to a floor slab ledge, which comprises: a tubular enclosure having a closed first end and an opposite open second end; a foot member projecting orthogonally from a side of said enclosure proximal said second end; at least one bracket projecting orthogonally from said side in the same angular direction as said foot member; a tubular clamping member having a first extremity telescopically engaged into said second end; an arm projecting orthogonally proximal a second end of said clamping member; said clamping member having a threaded inner section; a threaded stem having a first end section engaged into said threaded inner section and an opposite end section protruding through an aperture in said closed end; a handle capping said protruding section; and said handle being secured to said protruding section by a removable diametrical pin; whereby turning of said handle causes said clamping member to telescopically translate within said enclosure.

In some embodiments said foot member has at least one hole axially parallel to said tubular enclosure.

In some embodiments said bracket is U-shaped and has a median portion and the two leg portions secured to said enclosure side.

In some embodiments said bracket has a hole in said median section.

In some embodiments said handle includes a hexagonal part axially aligned with said threaded stem and suitable for engagement by a standard size wrench.

In some embodiments said threaded inner section comprises a nut fixedly secured within said clamping member.

In some embodiments the stanchion further comprises a first ring barrier coaxially and fixedly mounted on said threaded stem inside said enclosure proximal said closed end.

In some embodiments the stanchion further comprises a second ring barrier coaxially and fixedly mounted on said threaded stem first end section beyond said clamping member threaded section.

In some embodiments the stanchion further comprises three of said brackets, a first of said brackets located proximal to said foot member, a second bracket located in a median section of said enclosure, and a third of said brackets located proximal said closed end.

In some embodiments one of the leg portion of said first bracket is welded to said arm.

In some embodiments there is provided a safety barrier mounted on the ledge of an elevated concrete slab which comprises: a plurality of the stanchions secured to said ledge at spaced apart intervals; each of said stanchions clamping said ledge between said arm and the foot of said clamping member; a first elongated member engaged into the first bracket of at least two of said stanchions; an elongated member engaged into the second bracket of at least two of said stanchions; a third elongated member engaged into a third bracket of at least two of said stanchions; and a pin driven through the hole in the foot member of each of said stanchion and into said slab.

In some embodiments said elongated members comprise at least one construction stud.

In some embodiments said elongated members comprise at least one cable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stanchion according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the stanchion clamping mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a safety barrier using a plurality of stanchions; and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional top view of the handle and assisting lever.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown in FIG. 1 a post or stanchion 1 adapted for use in the construction of a safety barrier around the ledge of an elevated slab during the construction of a building. The stanchion comprises a tubular enclosure 2 made of square steel tubing having a closed upper end 3 and an open lower end 4. A clamping member 5 comprises a second tubular enclosure 6 made from a section of square tube open at both ends and having an outer side dimension slightly smaller than the interior side dimension of the stanchion enclosure 2. The clamping member has a foot member 7 projecting orthogonally proximal the lower end 8 of the second enclosure 6. The clamping member enclosure 6 is telescopically engaged into the open lower end of the first enclosure 2.

An arm 9 also projects orthogonally from a side of the first enclosure 2, proximal the open lower end 4 in the same direction as the foot 7 of the clamping member. Three U-shaped brackets 10, 11, 12 also have side leg sections projecting orthogonally from the same side of the first enclosure 2 as the arm 9. A first bracket 10 is located proximal to and in contact with the arm 9. The lower leg portion 13 of that bracket is preferably welded to the top surface of the arm 9. The attachment of the upper leg 14 to the first enclosure 2 is reinforced by a triangular gusset 15. The second bracket 11 is positioned in a median portion of the first enclosure 2. The third bracket 12 is positioned proximal the closed end of the first enclosure. The arm 9 has at least one hole 16 axially perpendicular to the first enclosure 2. Each bracket 10, 11, 12 has at least one hole 17 drilled perpendicularly to the first enclosure 2 in the middle of the central section of the U-shaped bracket.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a threaded stem 18 is axially engaged through the first and second enclosures 2, 6. The upper end of the stem 19 protrudes through an aperture 20 in the closed end 3 of the first enclosure. That upper end is capped by a handle 21, the handle comprises an upper section which consists of a hex-nut 24 axially aligned with the stem and shaped to be conveniently engaged by a standard size wrench. A lower section of the handle comprises of two wings 22, 23 shaped and dimensioned to be conveniently manipulated. As more specifically shown in FIG. 4, each wing is formed by a substantially L-shaped member 37 consisting of a radially projecting portion 38 and an axially projecting portion 39 extending substantially orthogonally from the radially distal end of the radially projecting portion. The axially projecting portion 39 is shaped to have a pair radially inward facing, substantially planar facets 40,41. Each facet is oriented to be 120 degrees to each other and substantially parallel with corresponding faces on the hex-nut 24. In this way, even if the user does not have the correctly sized wrench, the user can actuate the handle with power using a more readily available oblong tool 42 as an assisting lever such as a length of rebar.

The handle is attached to the upper part of the stem by a removable pin 25 passing transversely through radial bores in the hex-nut and diametrically through the stem. A ring barrier 26 is coaxially and fixedly welded around the stem inside the first enclosure 2 proximal the closed end 3.

The lower end of the stem 27 is captured by a threaded section 28 of the upper end of the second enclosure 6. This threaded section can conveniently be implemented by a nut secured by welding to the inside of the second enclosure 6. A second ring barrier 29 is optionally coaxially and fixedly secured beyond the threaded section to the lower extremity of the stem preventing it from being disengaged from the threaded section 28. Alternately, a removable transversal pin 29A shown in phantom lines on the drawing can allow complete disengagement of the threaded stem 18 from the second enclosure.

It can be understood that by turning the handle 21, the foot member 5 can be translated telescopically up or down in relation to the first enclosure 2.

The stanchion 1 can be conveniently dismantled for repair or maintenance by simply removing the transversal pin 26 in order to free the handle, and if necessary pin 29A at the opposite end of the threaded stem to disengage the stem from the clamping member enclosure 6.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the stanchion 1 can be conveniently clamped around the ledge 30 of an elevated floor slab 31 with the arm 4 resting against the top surface of the slab and the foot 8 of the clamping member resting against the bottom surface of the slab. The clamping action obtained by turning the handle 21 can be improved by the use of a dywidag thread around the stem 18 and strongly tightened by using a wrench on the hex-nut section 24. The stability of the stanchion is enhanced by driving a nail or spike 32 through the holes 16 of the arm and into the slab.

The brackets 10, 11, 12 are shaped and dimensioned to accommodate two standard size carpentry studs. Accordingly, a safety barrier 33 can be constructed by installing a number of stanchions 1 at spaced apart locations along the ledge 30, and joining two adjacent stanchions by an elongated member, preferably a stud 34 engaged into their lowest bracket 10. The stud can be further secured by driving nails 35 through the holes 17 in the brackets and into the body of the stud. Other elongated members, either studs or cables 36 can be run through the median and upper brackets 11, 12 in order to construct a barrier that can meet all the government safety regulations.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, modifications can be made and other embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A safety barrier stanchion securable to a floor slab ledge, which comprises: a tubular enclosure having a closed first end and an opposite open second end; a foot member projecting orthogonally from a side of said enclosure proximal said second end; at least one bracket projecting orthogonally from said side in the same angular direction as said foot member; a tubular clamping member having a first extremity telescopically engaged into said second end; an arm projecting orthogonally proximal a second end of said clamping member; said clamping member having a threaded inner section; a threaded stem having a first end section engaged into said threaded inner section and an opposite end section protruding through an aperture in said closed end; a handle capping said protruding section; and said handle being secured to said protruding section by a removable diametrical pin; whereby turning of said handle causes said clamping member to telescopically translate within said enclosure.
 2. The stanchion of claim 1, wherein said foot member has at least one hole axially parallel to said tubular enclosure.
 3. The stanchion of claim 2, wherein said bracket is U-shaped and has a median portion and the two leg portions secured to said enclosure side.
 4. The stanchion of claim 3, wherein said bracket has a hole in said median section.
 5. The stanchion of claim 1, wherein said handle includes a hexagonal part axially aligned with said threaded stem and suitable for engagement by a standard size wrench.
 6. The stanchion of claim 1, wherein said threaded inner section comprises a nut fixedly secured within said clamping member.
 7. The stanchion of claim 6 which further comprises a first ring barrier coaxially and fixedly mounted on said threaded stem inside said enclosure proximal said closed end.
 8. The stanchion of claim 7 which further comprises a second ring barrier coaxially and fixedly mounted on said threaded stem first end section beyond said clamping member threaded section.
 9. The stanchion of claim 4 which further comprises three of said brackets, a first of said brackets located proximal to said foot member, a second bracket located in a median section of said enclosure, and a third of said brackets located proximal said closed end.
 10. The stanchion of claim 3, wherein one of the leg portions of said first bracket is welded to said arm.
 11. A safety barrier mounted on the ledge of an elevated concrete slab which comprises: a plurality of the stanchion of claim 9 secured to said ledge at spaced apart intervals; each of said stanchions clamping said ledge between said arm and the foot of said clamping member; a first elongated member engaged into the first bracket of at least two of said stanchions; an elongated member engaged into the second bracket of at least two of said stanchions; a third elongated member engaged into a third bracket of at least two of said stanchions; and a pin driven through the hole in the foot member of each of said stanchion and into said slab.
 12. The barrier of claim 11, wherein said elongated members comprise at least one construction stud.
 13. The barrier of claim 11, wherein said elongated members comprise at least one cable. 